Automotive accessory



June 8, 1943. H. J. SAUER AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORY Filed Oct. 14, 1959 ATTORNEY proof.

Patented June 8, 1943 UNHTED STATES, PATENT OFFICE 2,321,251 AUTOMOTIVE acoassomz Henry J. Sauer, Fairfield, Conn., ass gnor to The Kilborn-Sauer Company, Fairfield, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application October 14, 1939, Serial No. 299,991 Claims. (Ci. 248-226) The present invention relates to a rear vision mirror bracket, particularly of thetype adapted for securing to the forward flanged edge of an automobile door, such flanged edge fitting into an angular recess in the door frame in the closed position of the door.

It is an object of the invention to provide an automotive accessory bracket with a new clamp means which makes a neat and space-closing or engaged surface fit against the outer surface of the door of a car without the necessity for drilling into the door, and which will in no way distort or mar the surface of the door. Another object is to provide a bracket which may be secured rigidly to the door, and by means of which the mirror supporting bracket arm may be adjusted to any desired angular position, thus adapting it to the right or left side of an automobile, and will be rigidly secured in such position.

A further object is to provide a single securing means which is adapted to fasten the bracket to the door and simultaneously fix the mirror supporting arm in its angularly adjusted position.

It is also a purpose to provide a bracket in which there are no exposed screw heads, and

which does not require the use of a screw driver to secure it. Another object is to provide a bracket which when secured to the car door 'is theft To this end it is proposed to provide means for permanently retaining the parts of the bracket and the mirror supporting arm together, and in combination with such means a bracket structure which when secured to the door flange cannot be removed when the door is in closed position. Consequently when the door is locked the bracket and mirror supporting arm cannot be removed by an unauthorized person, even if such person succeeds in loosening the securing means.

With the above and other objects in view an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a rear view mirror bracket and mirror, according to the exemplary illustrated embodiment of the invention.

. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, the mirror supporting bracket arm being broken away.

Fig. -3 is a side elevation, the mirror supporting bracket arm being shown in section, taken along the line 3-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view showing the bracket secured to the door structure.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of 'a portion of an automobile and showing the bracket mounted thereon. I

Similar reference characters indicate corre-' sponding vparts throughout the several figures oi the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the rear-view mirror bracket, according to the exemplary illustrated embodiment shown therein, comprises an outer clamping member i0 in the form of a rectangular box or housing consisting of a side wall ii, a rear wall l2, and top and bottom walls l3 and M, the inner and forward sides being open. The side wall II is provided centrally with a non-threaded aperture i5, and in surrounding relation to the aperture the wall is provided with an annular outward embossing l6, forming an annular recess at the inner side and an annular projected nut bearing platform at the outer side, for engagement by the securing nut, as will presently more fully appear. The bottom or inner edge of the housing cover member III is provided with an outwardly projecting rim flange 40 with which is interlockingly engaged the internally grooved bead 4| provided about three sides of a rectangular shoe 42 formed of rubber or other suitable resilient material and adapted to engage between the flange 40 and the outer surface of the'door to protect the latter.

The inner clamping member I! in the form of a yoke or U-part in cross section consists of a forward vertical wall l8, and rearwardly bent parallel spaced side walls 19 and 20, the vertical dimension orlength of this inner clamping member being slightly less than the interior vertical dimension of the outer clamping member l0, so that the side wall or clamp operating por tion I! fits telescopically and movably. within it, while the side wall2il in the form of a clamp-' ing jaw is disposed in spaced parallel relation to the housing bottom or the inner surface of the rubber shoe of the outer clampingmember to provide a clamping space or jaw within which is engaged the flange of the door, as will presently more fully appear.

vThe side wall I9 is provided centrally with a passage or threaded aperture 2i, in line with a and of smaller diameter than the aperture I5 "ing plate 32 against the ball surface.

bossing 22, forming an annular recess at the inner side and an annular projected portion at the outer side which is adapted to fit into the annular recess of the outer clamping member. The two openings l3 and 2|, for reception of the fixture arm 23, are coaxially disposed in the housing II and yoke II.

The mirror supporting bracket arm 23 is provided at its inner end with a screw threaded portion 24, upon which is engaged a nut 23, this nut adapted to bear upon the projected annular bearing surface or outer wall ii of the outer clamping member, and the inner end of the threaded portion being loosely engaged through the aperture l3 of the outer clamping member and screwed into the threaded aperture 2i of the operation portion l3 of the clamping yoke H. The coaxial screw thread means 24, 23 and the end of the nut bearing against the housing wall ii constitutes operating means for the clamp.

A cotter pin 23 is engaged through a hole 21 in the inner end of the bracket arm and is disposed within the annular recess of the inner clamping member, its function being to prevent outward disengagement of the arm 23 from the inner clamping member through unscrewing rotation of'the arm. It will be understood that instead of the cotter pin other suitable means may be employed to prevent removal of the arm.

as for instance, retaining lugs swedged upon the inner end of the arm after assembly, or a headed over end. The rubber shoe 2 prevents engagement of the inner end of the arm 23 with the surface of the door.

Upon the outer end of the arm there is adjustably mounted for universal adjustment movement a'rear view mirror element 23, the adjustable mounting consisting of a ball end 23 formed upon the end of the arm and engaged in an exteriorly threaded nipple 33 secured to the mirror casing, a spring 3i being disposed within the nipple and pressing a concave-convex bear- A cap nut 33, provided with a spherical shoulder 34 having an aperture 35, is screwed upon the nipple 33 to retain the ball in assembled relation with the nipple, the spherical shoulder 33 fltting the ball surface and the aperture 33 being substantially larger than the neck oi the arm 23 adjacent the ball, so that the connection may have universal swivelling movement about the ball to adjust the position of the mirror. The compressed spring exerts sufllcient pressure to retain the position of the mirror frictionally, the nut 33 being loosened to reduce this friction during adjustment. An automobile fixture or accessory, other than the rear vision mirror 23, may be mounted on the arm 23.

The device is mounted on the door by placing the clamping means astride the door flange 31. Thus the yoke i1 straddles the door flange edge. Then the accessory device is secured to the forward edge flange 33 of the door 31 by backing the nut 25 outwardly upon the arm 23 so that the movable clamping jaw formed between the flange 23 and the inner surface of the outer clamping member is opened sumciently to engage the flange 33. The nut 25 is then screwed inwardly just enough to cause the outer and inner clamping members 23 and ill to engage the door flange, and with the nut in this slightly loose relation the arm 23 is turned to thedesired position of angular adjustment where itis held by the threaded engagement of the screw threads 24 with the threaded hole 2| of the inner 9 ing member. Thereupon the nut 23 is tightened by means of a suitable wrench, this tightening action drawing the inner and outer clamping members into rigid tight clamping relation with the door flange and at the same time fixing the adjusted position of the fixture-supporting arm 23, the nut acting as a lock nut in cooperation with the threaded engagement of the arm with the threaded aperture 2|.

The housing l3 seats with an engaged surface fit, in a space-closing manner, against the outer surface of the door flange 33. This outer housing clamping member I 3 constitutes or forms a stationary jaw at rest against the outside of the door, while the yoke flange or wall 23 acts as a movable jaw and is drawn or forced toward the inside of the door. and hence toward said stationary jaw, by the operation of the screw means 24, 25 cooperating with the housing l3 and the operating flange portion IQ of the yoke ll.

In the closed position of the door, the flange 33 engages within an angular recess 33 of the door frame 39, there being sufficient clearance between the flange and the recess to receive the flange 23 of the inner clamping member. In some types of doors the door flange is provided at its inner surface with a rubber sealing strip which resiliently engages the recess 33, and in this case the flange 23 will preferably be inserted between the strip and the door flange. In the closed position of the door the end wall of the recess 33 is opposed to theedge of the door flange 33, so that it is impossible to remove the clamping member from the door, even if it is loosened by unscrewing the nut 23. It is impossible to remove the bracket, and as the arm 23 and nut 25 are permanently connected to the bracket by means of the cotter pin 23, it will be impossible for unauthorized persons to remove the supporting arm 23 with its mirror 23 or other automotive fixture. The assembly is therefore effectually theft proof as long as the automobile, door is locked in closed position.

The bottom 33 of the housing ID, with or without the enclosing pad 32, constitutes the stationary jaw of the clamping device when mounted on the door flange 33, and the yoke outer wall or flange 23 constitutes the other or movable jaw. "he housing I3 makes a spaceclosed fit of neat appearance and improved utility with the outer surface of the door.

I, have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An automotive accessory device comprising a housing forming a stationary jaw adapted to seat against the outer surface of an automobile door, a. clamping yoke having an operating portion mounted within the housing, said yoke being adapted to straddle the door flange, and including a movable jaw engaging the inner surface of the door flange, an opening extending through the housing coaxial with another opening provided through the operating portion of the yoke, an armsupporting a fixture and having its inner end disposed through the two coaxial openings, means on the inner end of the arm to secure it within the housing; and screw means carried by the device, in cooperative relation with the housing and with the operating portion of the yoke, for drawing the movable jaw toward said housing to anchor the device on the door.

2. An automotive accessory device comprising a housing forming a stationary jaw adapted to seat against the outer surface of an automobile door, a clampingyoke having an operating portion mounted within the housing, said yoke being adapted to straddle the door flange, and including a movable jaw reaching around the door flange edge to grip the inner surface of the door, the housing being provided with an aperture extending therethrough, an arm means carrying a fixture and having an inner end portion extending through the aperture, means disposed on the inner extremity of said inner end portion of the arm means for securing the latter in the housing; and screw means carried by the device, in cooperative relation with the housing and with the operating portion of the yoke, for drawing the jaw toward said housing to anchor the device on the door. I

3. An automotive accessory device comprising a housing forming a stationary jaw adapted to seat against the outer surface of an automobile door, a clamping yoke having an operating portion mounted within the housing, said yoke being adapted to straddle the door flange, and including a movable jaw reaching around the door flange edge to grip the inner surface of the door, the housing being provided with an aperture extending therethrough, an arm carrying a fixture and having its inner end loosely disposed through the aperture and extending into the housing and being connected with the operating portion of the yoke therein, screw threads formed on the arm portion mounted through the aperture, and a clamping-nut screwed onto the screwthreaded arm portion and bearing against the housing for actuating the yoke and drawing the movable jaw toward said housing to anchor the device on the door.

4. An automotive accessory device comprising seat against the outer surface of an automobile door, a, clamping yoke having an operating portion mounted within the housing, said yoke being adapted to straddle the door flange, and including a movable jaw reaching around the door flange 'edge to grip the inner surface of the door, the

housing being provided with an aperture extending therethrough, an arm supporting a fixture and having a screw-threaded portion movably disposed through the aperture, and the inner end of said arm being connected with the yoke, whereby the housing is movable relatively on the arm and to the yoke, and a clamp operating nut screwed onto the screw-threaded portion of the arm and bearing against the outside of the hous-' ing at its aperture to draw the movable jaw to-' gard said housing to anchor the device on the cor.

5. An automotive accessory device comprising a housing forming a stationary jaw adapted to seat against the outer surface of an automobile door, a clamping yoke having an operating portion mounted within the housing, said yoke being adapted to straddle the door flange, and ineluding a movable jaw reaching around the door flange edge to grip the inner surface of the door, the housing being provided with a non-threaded aperture extending therethrough, a screwthreaded aperture provided in the operating portion of the yoke coaxially with the non-threaded aperture of the housing, an arm means supporting a flxture and having an end portion extending through the two coaxial apertures, means on the inner extremity of the arm means securing same within the housing; and screw means disposed through the non-threaded aperture of the housing, in coaxial relation with the arm means and engaging the screw-threaded aperture of the yoke, for drawing the movable jaw toward said housing to anchor the device on the door.

HENRY J. SAUER.

3. a housing forming-a stationary jaw adapted to' 

